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“Why don’t you come find out just how wrong you are,” he taunts, grabbing the front of his jeans, and once again, I want to gag.
“Aw, that’s cute but no. If I wanted to suck on a Jolly Rancher, I’d go to the convenience store across the street.”
“What the fuck?” he hisses, his shoulders tensing up as he takes a step back.
“It was great chatting with you Tony but we’re done here,” she says, waving at him, and his face turns the color of a tomato.
“It’s Troy,” he growls, and she nods, taking a sip of her drink and looking out at the crowd.
“Uh-huh. Buh-bye now.”
He stands there awkwardly, unsure of what to say or do for a moment before he growls and spins, stalking back into the crowd. He slips behind this tiny little thing who couldn’t be more than nineteen and makes eye contact with me, grinding his hips against her ass.
“Dude is delusional,” Izzy says, and when I look at her, she’s got her head cocked to the side as she watches the show he’s putting on. “Is that supposed to entice you? He looks like he’s having a seizure.”
I laugh, and she takes a sip of her drink, turning to look at me with a sympathetic expression on her face. “This guy’s got a tiny Johnson, and he has no idea what to do with it. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a man that doesn’t know how to use his own cock.”
“Oh my god,” I gasp through my laughter but she doesn’t stop there.
“Oh, what do you want to bet he’s one of those guys that just flops around on top of you, moaning to some old classic rock song while you pray for a sinkhole to open up under the bed.”
Tears streak down my cheeks as I struggle to breathe.
“You’re a menace,” Carly tells her, and she gasps, slapping her hand over her heart in mock horror.
“I’m not the one who marched over here and tried to piss all over poor Ali like I owned her.”
“Yeah, Car, he kind of deserved what he got,” I add.
She finishes off her drink, fighting back a smile. “I mean, I’m not saying you’re wrong but that was savage, Iz.”
Izzy shrugs. “Don’t fuck with my girls and I’ll be the sweetest bitch around.”
“Okay, so now that I’ve had a drink and put up with Troy, can we go back to my place and watch movies?” I ask, and Izzy nods, grabbing her bag off the table.
“Yeah, let’s get the hell out of here before I have to put someone else in their place,” she teases, and I laugh as we gather up our things and head out to relax at my house.
* * * *
My knee aches as Carly and I walk up to the front doors of our new office building but I’m happy to be starting this job without the crutches. I’ll probably be laid up on the couch tonight but it’s worth it.
“Nervous?” I ask, looking over at Carly, who is beaming.
“Hell, no. I’m so excited that I never have to go to that paper again that there’s no room for anything else.”
I nod in agreement. Since quitting my job only three days ago, I’ve had this weight lifted off of me, and I’m thrilled to get started on something new. We open the door and walk into a clean, modern lobby that feels comfortable and stylish. The receptionist looks up and smiles but before she can say anything, Mercedes is rounding the corner and coming toward us.
“Ali,” she exclaims, taking me by surprise when she pulls me in for a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
When she releases me, she turns to Carly and beams. “And you must be Carly, it’s so great to meet you. I spent the weekend reading some of your past articles, and I’m so happy to have you on the team.”
Carly blushes and holds out her hand. “Well, thank you. I’m excited to be here.”
“I have to tell you, the article about the crooked cops was amazing. I was riveted.”
She lets out a nervous laugh, and I smile. Carly is an amazing writer but she hasn’t gotten the recognition she deserves over at the paper. I’m so glad that I had the idea to bring her along.
“Gosh, you’re making me blush,” she jokes.
